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CLEVELAND (AP) — The American League wild-card game is being played tonight with Tampa Bay visiting Cleveland. The game is scoreless in the early going.

The Indians are hot, finishing the regular season with 10 straight wins and 21 victories in 27 games in September. The Rays beat Texas in Arlington Monday night in the wild-card tiebreaker game.

The Indians, who haven't won a World Series since 1948, are making their first postseason appearance since 2007.

The Rays turn to right hander Alex Cobb, who brings an 11-3 mark into the contest with an ERA of 2.76. The Tribe have rookie Danny Salazer on the mound. He's 2-3 with an ERA of 3.12.

MLB-RED SOX

Sox name playoff rotation

BOSTON (AP) — Boston manager John Farrell says Jon Lester will get the start in the ALDS playoff opener Friday against winner of tonight's Tampa Bay-Cleveland wild-card game. John Lackey will start the second game in the best-of-five series, followed by Clay Buchholz. Jake Peavy would start a fourth game if it is necessary.

The Red Sox went through and intrasquad simulated game to stay sharp.

MLB-RANGERS

Wash coming back, 2 coaches won't

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — There will be a new coach sitting to the right of Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington during games next season, someone else for him to hug after each victory.

The Rangers said Wednesday that they will not renew the contracts of bench coach Jackie Moore, who has been in professional baseball 56 years and at Washington's side through two World Series, or first base coach Dave Anderson.

Washington is coming back as Rangers manager. He's 611-524 entering his eighth season at the Texas helm.

NFL-TRADE

Steelers and Cardinals deal

PITTSBURGH (AP) — A person with knowledge of the deal tells The Associated Press the Pittsburgh Steelers have acquired tackle Levi Brown from the Arizona Cardinals for a conditional draft pick.

The deal is pending Brown passing a physical, says the person, speaking on condition of anonymity because the trade is not yet completed.

Brown failed to live up to expectations in Arizona after the Cardinals selected him with the fifth overall pick in the 2007 draft.

The winless Steelers (0-4) desperately need help along the offensive line. Center Maurkice Pouncey is out for the year with a right knee injury, and second-year left tackle Mike Adams has struggled. Pittsburgh is off this week and travels to the New York Jets on Oct. 13

NFL-INJURIES

Unbeaten team hurting

UNDATED (AP) — The Kansas City Pro Bowl running back Jamaal Charles missed Wednesday's practice because of blisters on his feet. Chiefs coach Andy Reid said he believes Charles will be ready to go against the Tennessee Sunday.

Top cornerback Brandon Flowers missed another practice with inflammation in his knee, and starting free safety Kendrick Lewis has been dealing with a sprained ankle.

In other injury news:

— Denver weak side linebacker Danny Trevathan was carted off the field with a knee injury toward the end of practice. There was no immediate word on the severity, but there was considerable concern it was serious.

— Oakland quarterback Terrelle Pryor returned to practice and worked with the first team after missing last week's game with a concussion. Pryor is once again symptom free and appears on target to resume his starting role when the Raiders (1-3) host San Diego (2-2) on Sunday night.

NFL-NEWS

Blackmon returns... Whitner to Hitner

UNDATED (AP) — Jacksonville receiver Justin Blackmon has returned to the team after serving a four-game suspension for violating the NFL's substance abuse policy. During Wednesday practice, he dropped one pass but also made a one-handed catch in the end zone.

In other NFL news:

— San Francisco safety Donte Whitner is legally dropping the "W'' from his last name and will be known as Hitner. His nickname is Mr. Hitner for his hard-hitting style and he now wants to formalize the name. He's had attorney's file the paperwork in Ohio. Whitner has been in touch with Nike to determine how many No. 31 Whitner jerseys are still for sale in retail stores and elsewhere and whether he might need to financially contribute to make the switch.

NHL-PARROS

Parros out with concussion

MONTREAL (AP) — Montreal Canadiens enforcer George Parros has been released from the hospital after being treated overnight for a head injury suffered in a season-opening loss to Toronto.

Parros was knocked unconscious early in the third period Tuesday after his face slammed into the ice during a fight with Maple Leafs tough guy Colton Orr. Parros spent several minutes motionless on the ice before he was taken off on a stretcher.

The Canadiens said on their Twitter feed Wednesday that Parros would be out indefinitely with a concussion.

Shaw was knocked out of South Carolina's 28-25 victory at UCF in the first quarter and spent the rest of the game on the sidelines with his right arm in a sling and ice bags on his right shoulder.

PENN STATE-ABUSE

No new trial for Sandusky

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania appeals court has ruled Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky should not get a new trial after being convicted of sexually abusing 10 boys.

The unanimous decision by a three-judge Superior Court panel came barely two weeks after they heard oral arguments by Sandusky's lawyer and a state prosecutor.

Defense lawyer Norris Gelman said he planned to ask the state Supreme Court to review the case.

Sandusky had argued his trial lawyers did not have sufficient time to prepare, a prosecutor made improper references to him not testifying on his own behalf and the judge mishandled two jury instructions.

Sandusky, who's 69, is serving a 30- to 60-year prison sentence at a state prison in southwestern Pennsylvania. If he does not get the convictions overturned, he is likely to die in prison.

IOC-ARMSTRONG

IOC receives Lance Armstrong's Olympic medal

LONDON (AP) — Lance Armstrong's Olympic medal is back with the IOC. The International Olympic Committee stripped the American rider of the bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Games in January after he admitted to doping.

The Miami Heat star and four-time league MVP tops the NBA's global list of jersey sales for this past season, according to numbers released Tuesday. James — who also has the top-selling jersey in the United States — outsold Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls, Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder and Heat teammate Dwyane (dwayn) Wade for the No. 1 spot.